The Unfair Advantage of Startup Energy
Four Insights for Finding Meaningful Direction in Life
Recently, Substack founders
and invited their audience to invest in its platform. I find this remarkable and fascinating as the company strives to disrupt the online writing community by concentrating on basic, essential concepts such as freedom of speech--something that Medium seems to have forgotten (for example, they barred me from expressing “counterperspectives and unpopular opinions” regarding the pandemic - that have now been validated as factual).Ironically, better yet, coincidentally - i.e., when random events seem to coincide for personal gain - in the message to prospective investors, the founders referred to their “Unfair Advantage,” which just so happens to be the title of a book I recently read. In this write-up, allow me to expound upon my four essential takeaways from that work. Without further adieu, let’s get started!
Insight #1: Everyone should have their own startup
In “The Unfair Advantage,” the reader is taken on a captivating journey through the eyes of both Ash and Hasan, two startup founders who can be credited for their colossal successes. Through this book, you get to see how entrepreneurs such as Kylie Jenner and Evan Spiegel used their unfair advantages in order to skyrocket their companies.
The valuable lesson I gleaned from these various experiences is that a startup has to become an absolute priority, similar to how one would prioritize their own child. We recently discussed the concept of living your best life through embracing hobbies - You may hold onto your routine job; however, this notion suggests dedicating yourself to executing and nurturing your business as it will offer you discipline and guidance for each day.
This realization was eye-opening, as I could relate to the same frame of mind. In an upcoming blog post, I plan on discussing how essential it is to prepare for the day ahead; however, with a startup comes dedication and attention that’s undeniably necessary for its growth - just like those Tamagotchi pets we used to have! Feed them and watch them thrive.
It is essential to pinpoint that startup idea so we can make the most of our drive and ambition. This startup energy will motivate us to do great things every day, but before taking action on the project, it’s important to determine our purpose first. Having a clear purpose allows us to invest all of ourselves into creating something truly special—we become empowered by setting out with a mission in mind, thus allowing us to create an extraordinary life experience!
Insight #2: Traction and Execution are the Keys to the Startup
Startups can learn a great deal by understanding the notion of traction. As you read this book, it puts you in the shoes of early startup founders and explains how to generate investment from potential investors. Most startups don’t have hefty sums behind them—unless that’s their ace up their sleeve—so instead, financiers look at the progress being made rather than assessing the money they have. When venture capitalists evaluate an entrepreneurial enterprise, what matters is not just capital but also momentum.
Traction is the idea that a startup’s success should steadily grow over time. This concept links to the fundamental notion of consistency - if we constantly work on our business and pursue goals, eventually, momentum will begin to build. We can elect whether this energy is positive or negative, but by focusing it in a promising direction, like snowballing down a hillside, we will notice its effects immediately with regard to how healthy and prosperous our startups become.
Traction is essential, but so is execution. It is a profound realization - while having ideas is excellent, they only make up half of the journey. Bringing our notions from imagination into reality divides successful startups from all the rest. When we persistently put these concepts into action and gain traction, that’s when our businesses begin to help us live with purpose and joy.
Insight #3: Fortune Favors the Bold
If you’ve stumbled upon this piece, chances are that you understand the divergence between a “growth” and a “fixed” mindset. Let’s recap: A growth mindset is one where one can achieve anything, while with a fixed mindset, nothing other than what has already been achieved can be accomplished.
The authors introduce a new way to view the world, which they dub the “reality-growth” mindset. As elaborated in their book:
“A reality-growth mindset is the ability to accept the hard limits of the way things are (like the physical laws of the universe) and also to believe that anything is possible (the metaphysical way of looking at the universe). It acknowledges that there are limitations, but that those limitations are more malleable than some people may think.”
My esoteric wisdom section dives into the metaphysical aspects of reality, inspiring me to create this course and pen my upcoming book. By understanding both physical laws as well as non-physical concepts that influence physical reality, we can glimpse a fuller picture of our world - an idea explored in depth within this article.
In conclusion, having a growth mindset rooted in reality allows you to take consistent action (ps: writing a future article on this, so be sure to subscribe) trusting that the results will be beneficial. Gratitude is a great habit to practice during your startup’s highs and lows, but above all else, it’s imperative to have an antifragile outlook, as I further explain in my podcast episode!
By adopting a reality-growth mindset, we can recognize and accept the world for what it is but also courageously believe that with faith and confidence in our capabilities, success will follow - based on our individual unfair advantages.
Insight #4: Life is Unfair; Deal with it
As part of my three-year journey, I strengthen myself by reading a daily manifesto each morning. The very first line reads: “Life is pain, suffering, and unpredictable; be antifragile.” This potent mantra serves as an important reminder to me that despite the hardships that may come our way in life, we can acquire the strength to become stronger from them.
This persistent reminder serves to unmask the deceptive, false narratives of success crafted by mainstream media outlets. By doing so, we recognize just how unfair life can be!
Chances are, you’re part of the majority—which means you’re not part of the minority, those with access to wealth beyond our means. Yes, life is unfair. Either you went to college or didn’t, or you have a degree with loans you aren’t using. Again, yes, life is unfair, and certain aspects of it suck; but then again, such is life.
As we confront pandemics, misallocating taxes, and altering our current monetary system, these “black swan” events are set to disturb how we run businesses, sustain ourselves financially, and more. We can either stay in a stagnant, “fixed mindset,” clinging onto old habits, or choose to embark on an ambitious, “reality-growth mindset” —like David challenging Goliath—and move forward into this promising future. Decentralization and alternate currencies can offer us a way out from the dystopian condition foreseen for us.
This challenge is what life has dealt us, and now it’s time to uncover our purpose, cultivate and strengthen our unique advantages, launch or support startups that can help us lead the lives we were intended for.
Conclusion
I’m glad you took the time to read my thoughts on The Unfair Advantage! If this resonated with you, please pass it along to someone else who might appreciate it. Engaging in philosophical conversations and sharing meaningful pieces of work creates a sense of community - precisely what humanity was designed for.
In conclusion, I hope to inspire all of you to take action! If you’re unsure of your purpose in life, seize this moment and dedicate some time to uncovering what it is. This article will surely aid in the process, but once your purpose has been revealed, strive every day towards achieving that goal - such as making strides with a startup business. By taking these steps now, we can ensure our future selves thank us for doing so.
Our startup serves as the tangible representation of our mission, and with more attention, it continues to grow. It takes unwavering faith and consistent action to keep moving forward courageously. Applying a realistic perspective along with an attitude of appreciation is what will help us succeed. Have confidence that fortune favors those who are bold and continue taking steps towards progress - no matter how fragile or uncertain life may seem at times!
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I am immensely grateful for your attention and wish you the best in life’s journey.
Ase!
Questions to Think About
Have you ever felt lost or lacking direction in your life? How can adopting the "Startup Energy" concept help you find purpose and meaning in your daily tasks?
What steps can you take to harness the energy and direction provided by working on a startup, even if you don't actually work for or own a startup?
The authors also emphasize the importance of building a strong and supportive team. How can you identify the right people to surround yourself with and foster a collaborative and productive work environment?